With a distressed body and antiqued hardware, AXL Badwater Series guitars have the look and feel of ancient artifacts. Even the headstock and backplate have vintage distressing. No area was spared the treatment. The Badwater Series has received Guitar World's December 2007 Gold Award for overall value.

The crackle brown and white body finish has a reptilian texture throughout. The off-white finish has a rusted, phantom-like appearance. The brown finish AXL guitar has the look of a museum-quality guitar stored away for decades. The crackle blue finish looks like it was pulled from deep on the ocean floor. The crackle black finish evokes the texture of a guitar blackened and burned by lightning. Case sold separately.

Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.

I got this guitar 4 years ago, it was my first guitar, and I still use it quite often. It works pretty well, especially for the price. The only problems I have...Read complete review

I got this guitar 4 years ago, it was my first guitar, and I still use it quite often. It works pretty well, especially for the price. The only problems I have with it are that when tuning the b string the tuner does not start tuning the string until it's moved quite a bit, making it slightly more difficult. The pick guard is sticking up in several places, although this can be fixed by simply re-screwing it. there is some wear on the guitar from playing, and when the paint starts to chip off it makes it a light blue instead of a dark. It is a very interesting and good looking guitar. And I feel I will still use this for a long time.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

Not worth it

I've had this guitar for a while. The guitar is, quite simply, one of the worst guitars I've ever owned.The build quality is horrible. The neck has multiple frets that are popped up...Read complete review

I've had this guitar for a while. The guitar is, quite simply, one of the worst guitars I've ever owned.The build quality is horrible. The neck has multiple frets that are popped up on the ends, the fret ends are sharp, and there are actually some dings and gouges in the frets themselves.The edges of the plate that goes around the output jack were sticking out quite a bit and the plate wasn't properly screwed down, so I had to screw it down so it wouldn't catch on everything.The string action was the highest of any guitar I've ever bought, as in, unplayabley high. This can be fixed with a fret job, truss rod adjustment, further saddle adjustment, and shimming the neck, but it's disappointing it came like this.Further, the metal of the saddle height adjustment screws bends easily and don't work well.This guitar isn't worth your time and money.

I'm very happy with this purchase. It was a bit of a purchase of passion because I fell for the looks thinking that I could just mod it to my own liking. But now that I have it, I don't think I'll be changing anything. I was very impressed by the pickups... I was expecting something pretty low end, but they are very responsive to my picking style and have 3 notably different voicings which makings it a very dynamic guitar to play. It's lighter than my American Fender Strat but holds it's own in comparison. As stock, better than my PRS SE.

The only negatives that I can find is that it wasn't professionally set up so there is some fret buzz that is a little annoying. Although after a few adjustments it's not really a big deal. Also, there was a hair painted onto the body... isn't really noticeable unless you're really looking for it. Overall though, I'm very satisfied.

I got this guitar 4 years ago, it was my first guitar, and I still use it quite often. It works pretty well, especially for the price. The only problems I have with it are that when tuning the b string the tuner does not start tuning the string until it's moved quite a bit, making it slightly more difficult. The pick guard is sticking up in several places, although this can be fixed by simply re-screwing it. there is some wear on the guitar from playing, and when the paint starts to chip off it makes it a light blue instead of a dark. It is a very interesting and good looking guitar. And I feel I will still use this for a long time.

Holds tune for a while, pretty dicey here, it will hold tune for some time..but if you're a stretcher like I am..watch out..it will go out pretty fast.

The tuners BITE, they do the job though, and are smooth, but the the plastic nut..man..oh man..its awful..can here the ting ting ting with ever twist of the tuner.

Once in tune, it holds well for while..like i said..just watch when you stretch...it'll go for sure.

Highs are very nice on this guitar...lows are muddy

The neck is a dream.

I do not think I will do anything to this guitar..wont put money in to it. I like the look..and its a great beater guitar..if you need something to practice on...maybe even take to practice..then this fits the bill.

I wouldn't hessitate as to bring it as a backup also..its good enough for a couple tunes live.

i was looking for my first electric guitar a few years ago and i saw this sitting in the local music shop and instantly fell in love with it i loved the look of the pickups and tremolo and now that i know what to look for i know that it wasn't just good looks. great tone stays in tune good playability amazing neck. string it up with a set of .13 guage strings and it has the perfect tone for the blues

Just got one of these little gems. Boy was I supprised. These sound great! The weight and the neck are fantastic. The Pickups are what you would expect from EMG. Hot and heavy! The finish is alright, the pickguard is painted which will eventually flake off. The tuners are alright, for now. Just a lot of fun and a great beater guitar. Might even be a backup guitar?

I bought this guitar from a local shop about two years ago. It was reasonably priced and looked great (crackle blue). But upon getting it home and giving it the ole run through I feel in love with it. Especially its neck! One of the smoothest fastest necks I've played. The tone from this baby is impressive! Almost any position you click the 5 way has something rich to offer! I play with it distorted, clean, effects, you name it and it sounds great. Never have had a problem with its realiability, and have gigged with it many of times. This AXL company is really making some quality products here, I just can't believe they're doing it so cheaply.

I had heard about these guitars from an on line review. The guitar has really good sound. The come with Alnico EMG designed pickups. The playability is really good on mine. I purchased the crackle blue. I recommend to put on better strings...other then that I love it. I recommend this product.

This guitar isn't bad at all for the price, and it looks cool, but the guitar I receieved had a brown pickguard (same color as the head stock) not a white one as in the pictures. Doesn't look half as good w/ the brown pickguard. Beware.